Every employee deserves to feel valued, supported, and connected to their school community—not only as a fundamental right but as a necessity for effectively serving students. Fostering healthy, thriving school environments is integral to this mission. LAASC embeds wellness into professional learning, ensuring that employees not only deepen their expertise but also cultivate sustainable self-care practices. By integrating well-being into daily routines, staff build resilience, reduce stress, and enhance their overall effectiveness. Prioritizing employee wellness strengthens school communities, empowering educators and staff to show up as their best selves for the students they serve.

WELLNESS FOR EMPLOYEES - SELECT RESOURCES FROM THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES

This professional development series emphasizes self-care and emotional well-being. Participants will learn breathing techniques to manage stress and promote calm. The series will explore ways to integrate the outdoors into daily routines, identify hobbies and pastimes that provide relaxation, and utilize art therapy as a creative outlet. School-based classified employees and Teacher Assistants will also focus on gratitude practices that can be applied in personal and professional contexts and learn to navigate their wellness journey to manage emotions effectively. The goal is to help employees cultivate a balanced and supportive environment for themselves.  

• Breathing and Stretching
  • Box Breathing – 1 minute in length
  • Dr. Weil explains how to do his 4-7-8 breathing technique.
  • 478 Mindfulness Breathing
• Gratitude
• Great Outdoors
  • Outdoor Wellness Explorer's Guide
• Mindfulness
  • Why Mindfulness Is a Superpower
  • The 5-4-3-2-1 Method: A Grounding Exercise to Manage Anxiety
•  Joy
  • Where joy hides and how to find it - Ingrid Fetell Lee
• Neurographic Art
  • Neurographic Art Tutorial : Mindfulness In Art

ARTICLES

• Working Toward Wellness: L.A. Administrators Practice Coping Strategies to Deal with Pandemic-Era School Stresses
  By M. A. Nava, Principal Magazine, November/December 2021

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

• Wellness for Administrators: Reducing Isolation & Increasing Connectedness - ACSA Equity Institute | March 12-14, 2025

LA UNIFIED - ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• 2022-23 Educators' Roadmap for Social-Emotional Well-Being & Academic Success v.2 

• Health and Wellness Programs by Provider
• Health Benefits by Provider

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• 23 Days of Winter Break Wellness - Winter 2025